Thursday, June 3, 1943

Dear Ruel,

Dulcie and I are laying in bed trying to make the time pass faster.  She came home yesterday afternoon.  She said at first there wasn't as much excitement here as there was at the hospital, but I think she's as glad as I was to get home.  Mama has a big job waiting on us and doing everything else too.  Jo is a big help with Johnnie and is bringing us things.

This was a big day with me, for I got to sit up some - Dulcie says I've already going over my hour.  I sat up to eat my meals and to play with Johnnie on the bed.  I'm not nearly as weak as I thought I would be.  My back hurts a little and my legs feel weak, but otherwise I don't feel bad.  DUlcie got a big kick out of my first attempts to get up.  She said she didn't think it was as much fun as I thought it was going to be.  Tomorrow I can sit up all day.  Maybe I can write a little straighter then.

Despite Johnnie's cold he plays pretty well most of the day.  Papa has him spoiled to being carried.  Whenever he sits down with him he starts squirming.  It has been hot enough to take him outside for the last day or two and of course he likes that.  If we only had his stroller or something to ride him in, it would be better.  I could have brought his stroller and had it checked as baggage had I thought of it - had I known I would be staying this long.  Don't know how I expected to have an operation and get back any sooner.

Did Dr. Cockerham ask you Sunday if I hadn't gotten up enough courage to come back yet.  After you said he had been down there to see Mrs. Turner, I thought about that.  Perhaps he could see a better excuse for me to have come home if I had the operation.  He may be like Dr. Patterson though and think I should have had it done at Rosedale - I know you get tired of all the writing I do about the operation.  I'll have to try not bore you.

The oats here look like they are about ready to harvest.  I wonder if yours is that far along.  You will be busy when they are ready.  Of course all of that depends on dry weather - I hope you are having some of that now.  The cotton is beginning to shine in the fields here too.  I know that six weeks away from home can make a big difference in crops.  It seems like longer than that, doesn't it?

Harding is back in Alabama again.  This time he is at Gunther Field near Montgomery.  He is ready to fly the B.T planes now - guess that means Basic Trainer.  We had hoped he would get home while he was at Douglas, Georgia, but he didn't.  He seems to be all wrapped up in flying and likes it fine.  I'm glad he feels that way about it.

Suppose you will know when I get your next letter whether you will get gas for the trip up here.  Communications by letter is so slow that I don't know from one letter to the next what to expect.  I'm getting tired of writing aren't you?  I think I can be more sympathetic toward husbands and wives that are separated by war and who must write with less hope than we have.  If we don't have to experience that, weare blessed more than we know.

Hope all is well at home.

Love,

Mavis